Wrappable flashlight

Abstract

This invention provides an elongated flexible member that is capable of being formed into a plurality of differing shapes so that it can be supported at a variety of locations and has retaining means for retaining it in a desired shape so that a holder connected to one end thereof can hold a flashlight at any desired position relative thereto.

Description

andThe As shown in FIG. 5, the elongated flexible member 6 may be formed into a variety of shapes other than that illustrated in FIG. 1. Such shapes include wrapping a portion of it around a pipe or rod for working under a sink, wrapping a portion around any convenient part when working on an engine and in fact, can be used anywhere.

The elongated flexible member 6 is of the type marketed by Lockwood Products, Inc. under the trade designation LOC-LINE (R). This product is used as a modular hose system for providing high volume fluids for cooling tools, such as in cutting operations. The elongated flexible member 6 comprises a plurality of interconnected segments 30. As illustrated in FIG. 3, each segment 30 comprises a central body portion 32, a male end portion 34 and a female end portion 36. The male end portion 34 has an outer surface 38 comprising a frustum of a sphere and the female end portion 36 has a mating inner surface 40 comprising a frustum of a sphere which is dimensioned so that, when the male end portion 34 is inserted into the female end portion 36, there is frictional contact between the mating outer and inner surfaces 38 and 40. These frictional forces function as retaining means to hold one segment 30 at any desired location relative to an interconnected segment 30. However, these frictional forces can be overcome which permits interconnected segments 30 to be moved relative to each other so that their longitudinal axes are either in or out of alignment and permits unrestricted relative rotational movement therebetween. The member 16 is preferably provided with a female end portion 36 having an inner surface 40 so that it can be connected to the male end portion 34 of the end segment 30 or it can be connected to an end segment 30 by any suitable means, such as a rivet. This connection permits the flashlight 4 to have the same relative movements as the interconnected segments, as described above. The length of the elongated flexible member 16 can be changed by adding or removing segments 30.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 4. An adapter 50 has a male end portion 34 that is dimensioned to fit into a female end portion 36 and has an externally threaded end portion 52. An internally threaded socket 54 is secured to a ledge 56 by clamping means 58. The adapter 50 has a central body section 60 having an outer surface configuration so that a tool can be applied thereto and rotated to attach the adapter 50 and therefore, the elongated flexible member 6, to the socket 54.

It is contemplated that the inventive concepts herein described may be variously otherwise embodied and it is intended that the appended claims be construed to include alternative embodiments of the invention except insofar as limited by the prior art.

Claims

1. A device for holding a flashlight at a desired location comprising:

an elongated flexible member capable of being moved into a plurality of differing shapes;

retaining means for retaining said elongated flexible member in a desired shape;

holding means connected to an end portion of said elongated flexible member for holding a flashlight at a desired location;

attachment means comprising a portion of said elongated flexible member itself for attaching said elongated flexible member on a fixed object; and wherein said attachment means comprise:

a central body section, a male end section, an externally threaded end section and a longitudinal axis; and

said male end section having an outer surface having a configuration similar to that of said male end portion of said segment.

2. A device as in claim 1 and further comprising:

connecting means for connecting said holding means to said end portion of said elongated flexible member to permit relative angular and rotational movement between said holding means and the remaining portion of said elongated flexible member.

3. A device as in claim 1 wherein said holding means comprises:

a member having a generally arcuate cross-sectional configuration and a longitudinal axis; and

said member having an arcuate extent greater than 180 degrees and having spaced apart terminal end portions.

4. A device as in claim 3 wherein:

said member being formed from a resilient material so that said terminal end portions may be spread apart as said flashlight is inserted therein and function to resile back and exert a resilient force on said flashlight to hold it at a desired location.

5. A device as in claim 4 wherein:

said elongated flexible member comprises a plurality of interconnected segments.

6. A device as in claim 5 wherein each of said segments comprises:

a central body portion, a male end portion, a female end portion and a longitudinal axis.

7. A device as in claim 6 wherein:

said male end portion having an outer surface comprising a frustum of a sphere; and

said female end portion having an inner surface comprising a frustum of a sphere and dimensioned to receive said male end portion to permit relative movement between interconnected segments so that their longitudinal axes are either in or out of alignment and permits unrestricted rotational movement therebetween.

8. A device as in claim 7 wherein said retaining means comprise:

frictional forces between said outer and inner surfaces when said male end portion is within said female end portion to retain interconnected segments in the shape to which they have been moved.

9. A device as in claim 8 wherein: each of said segments is formed from a plastic material.

10. A device as in claim 1 wherein:

said central body section having an outer surface configuration for receiving a tool for rotating said attachment means.

11. A method for positioning a light beam, comprising:

(a) providing an elongated flexible member, that includes a plurality of discrete, rotatably interconnected segments, engaging a portable electric light, the light being electrically connected to a portable power source; and

(b) wrapping at least a portion of the elongated flexible member around an object to position the light.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the elongated flexible member is positioned between the light and the power source.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the light is located at an end of the elongated flexible member.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the power source is connected to an end of the elongated flexible member.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the light and power source are removably connected to said elongated flexible member.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein said wrapping step comprises:

forming said at least a portion of said elongated flexible member into a loop around said object.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein after said wrapping step said elongated flexible member is in a desired shape and further comprising:

maintaining said elongated flexible member in said desired shape.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of discrete, rotatably interconnected segments includes a passage extending therethrough and a male end and a female end.

19. A method for positioning a light beam in a desired orientation, comprising:

(a) providing (i) a portable electric light electrically connected to a portable power source with (ii) an elongated flexible member, the elongated flexible member including a plurality of discrete, rotatably interconnected segments; and

(b) wrapping at least a portion of the elongated flexible member around an object to position the light in a desired orientation.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the elongated flexible member is positioned between the light and the power source.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the light is located at an end of the elongated flexible member.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the power source is located at an end of the elongated flexible member.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein each of said plurality of discrete, rotatably interconnected segments include a male end and a female end and the light and power source are removably connected to said elongated flexible manner.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein said wrapping step comprises:

forming said at least a portion of said elongated flexible member into a loop around said object.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein after said wrapping step said elongated flexible member is in a desired shape and further comprising:

maintaining said elongated flexible member in said desired shape.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein each of the plurality of discrete, rotatably interconnected segments comprises a passage extending therethrough.

27. A method for providing hands-free lighting to a desired area, comprising:

(a) wrapping an elongated flexible manner around an object, wherein the elongated flexible member includes a plurality of discrete, rotatably interconnected segments;

(b) positioning a portable electric light and portable power source for the light, both of which are attached to the elongated flexible member, in a desired orientation.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the elongated flexible member is positioned between the light and the power source.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the light is located at an end of the elongated flexible member.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the power source is connected to an end of the elongated flexible manner.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the light power source are removably connected to said elongated flexible member.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein said wrapping step comprises:

forming said at least a portion of said elongated flexible member into a loop around said object.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein after said wrapping step and elongated flexible member is in a desired shape and further comprising:

maintaining said elongated flexible member in said desired shape.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein each of the plurality of discrete, rotatably interconnected segments comprises a passage extending therethrough and a male end and a female end.